Jackie, I keep coming back to look at the snailfish. At first I couldn't even recognize it as a fish. Now I marvel at all its strange features: the randomly spotty and peachy coloration, the barely recognizable mouth, that cute little dorsal fin, but above all, the starry, starey eye.
I love your description of this little fish! I'm not that great with words, but you described it perfectly. That unusual eye also drew my attention. I think the eye also looks a lot like a barnacle! And why such a small pupil?
Perhaps true to its name, in the field I thought it was a snail at first -- resting on a blade of kelp. Although I've seen snailfish with their bodies extended (when they look more like tadpoles), apparently this resting position -- with the tail curled up towards the head -- is common in this family.
Thanks so much for your appreciation and sharing what you see!
Jackie, I keep coming back to look at the snailfish. At first I couldn't even recognize it as a fish. Now I marvel at all its strange features: the randomly spotty and peachy coloration, the barely recognizable mouth, that cute little dorsal fin, but above all, the starry, starey eye.
ReplyDeleteHi, Peter!
ReplyDeleteI love your description of this little fish! I'm not that great with words, but you described it perfectly. That unusual eye also drew my attention. I think the eye also looks a lot like a barnacle! And why such a small pupil?
Perhaps true to its name, in the field I thought it was a snail at first -- resting on a blade of kelp. Although I've seen snailfish with their bodies extended (when they look more like tadpoles), apparently this resting position -- with the tail curled up towards the head -- is common in this family.
Thanks so much for your appreciation and sharing what you see!
:) Jackie